We've been closely following the 2012 Land Art Generator Initiative[3] design competition to create a new public art installation on the site of Freshkills Park[4] for several months now, and are excited to announce that the winner was announced just moments ago in New York City. "Scene Sensor", designed by artists James Murray and Shota Vashakmadze, is a striking piezoelectric energy-generating[5] art project designed to be installed above and below the surface of the Staten Island park. The duo from Atlanta will walk away with the $15,000 grand prize, while the $4,000 second place goes to Matthew Rosenberg, Matt Melnyk, Emmy Maruta, and Robbie Eleazer for their design "Fresh Hills".

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With a proposed energy-generating capacity of 5,500 MWh, Scene Sensor is comprised of two planes that span the width between the site’s northern and eastern mounds, where a strong wind current exists. The screens are designed to map the wind currents, and the flexible panels are also free to shift with the wind. This means that instead of harnessing the wind’s energy like a turbine, the metallic mesh is fitted with piezoelectric wires that transform motion into electrical current[7].

Visitors to the site can also generate energy by walking on an intersecting platform that lies above the water line. “On a spring day”, according to the design brief, “the energy collected through these intersecting processes would be enough to power 1200 households.” At night, the screens are lit up so that visitors can see what the wind map looks like in living color. This is bound to create a sense of awe, and that is what LAGI is all about -inspiring people to see how awesome nature is and how exciting it is when we tap into that power.

Fresh Hills, the design that received second place in the 2012 LAGI Design Competition[8] is expected to have an energy-generating capacity of 238MW. A site-specific hilly concept that matches the capped landfill mounds, the design is elevated where there is more air flow, optimizing the wind turbines’ efficiency[9]. Designed by Matthew Rosenberg with help from Matt Meinyk, Emmy Maruta and Robbie Eleazer, the undulating platforms also scrub greenhouse gas emissions from the air. “Fresh Hills is a beacon tuned to its specific frequency,” wrote the designers. “It illustrates to the world what the future of Freshkills stands for and delivers a promise for a healthier future. It is a symbol that people will recognize, learn from and interact with for many years to come.”

Hundreds of artists and designers from around the world submitted thoughtful, practical and above all aesthetically-pleasing designs for a superlative energy-generating land art installation at Freshkills Park[10]. Located on the western shore of Staten Island, New York, the 2,200 acre site boasts one of the largest reclamation programs in the United States and is currently the largest park in New York. To the LAGI organizers, who teamed up with the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation[11] to stage the competition, this incredible acreage represented an excellent opportunity to develop a large scale project with potential to power thousands of homes.

The design brief called for constructible, practical, safe and well-informed energy-generating designs[12] that demonstrate prior knowledge of the site’s unique geography and history. These 3D sculptural forms were expected to inspire a reflective mood while doing no damage to either the natural environment or the existing infrastructure. The jury, which included such big names as Bjarke Ingels from BIG[13], Eric Shiner, who is the Director of the Andy Warhol Museum[14], and Eloise Hirsh, the Freshkills Park Administrator, found that Scene Sensor met all these requirements best.